A Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Acuity & Procedure Volume Before & During the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

In March 2020, the American College of Surgeons recommended postponing elective procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We used Medicare claims to analyze changes in surgical and interventional procedure volumes from 2016 to 2021.

METHODS

We studied 37 common surgical and interventional procedures using 5% Medicare claims files from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2021. Procedures were classified according to American College of Surgeons guidelines as low, intermediate, or high acuity, and counts were analyzed per calendar year quarter (Q1-Q4), with stratification by sex and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

We observed 1,840,577 procedures and identified two periods of marked decline. In Q2 2020, overall procedure counts decreased by 32.2%, with larger declines in low (41.1%) and intermediate (30.8%) acuity procedures. High acuity procedures declined the least (18.2%). Overall volumes increased afterward but never returned to baseline. Another marked decline occurred in Q4 2021, with all acuity levels having declined to a similar extent (40.1%, 44.2%, and 46.9% for low, intermediate, and high acuity, respectively). High and intermediate acuity procedures declined more in Q4 2021 than Q2 2020 (P = 0.002). Similar patterns were observed across sex and race/ethnicity strata.

CONCLUSIONS

Two major procedural volume declines occurred between 2020 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. High acuity (life or limb threatening) procedures were least affected in the first decline (Q2 2020) but not spared in second decline (Q4 2021). Future efforts should prioritize preserving high-acuity access during times of stress.

Increased Preoperative Stress Test Utilization is Not Associated With Reduced Adverse Cardiac Events in Current US Surgical Practice

OBJECTIVE

To measure the frequency of preoperative stress testing and its association with perioperative cardiac events.

BACKGROUND

There is persistent variation in preoperative stress testing across the United States. It remains unclear whether more testing is associated with reduced perioperative cardiac events.

METHODS

We used the Vizient Clinical Data Base to study patients who underwent 1 of 8 elective major surgical procedures (general, vascular, or oncologic) from 2015 to 2019. We grouped centers into quintiles by frequency of stress test use. We computed a modified revised cardiac risk index (mRCRI) score for included patients. Outcomes included in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), myocardial infarction (MI), and cost, which we compared across quintiles of stress test use.

RESULTS

We identified 185,612 patients from 133 centers. The mean age was 61.7 (±14.2) years, 47.5% were female, and 79.4% were White. Stress testing was performed in 9.2% of patients undergoing surgery, and varied from 1.7% at lowest quintile centers, to 22.5% at highest quintile centers, despite similar mRCRI comorbidity scores (mRCRI>1: 15.0% vs 15.8%; P =0.068). In-hospital MACE was less frequent among lowest versus highest quintile centers (8.2% vs 9.4%; P <0.001) despite a 13-fold difference in stress test use. Event rates were similar for MI (0.5% vs 0.5%; P =0.737). Mean added cost for stress testing per 1000 patients who underwent surgery was $26,996 at lowest quintile centers versus $357,300 at highest quintile centers.

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantial variation in preoperative stress testing across the United States despite similar patient risk profiles. Increased testing was not associated with reduced perioperative MACE or MI. These data suggest that more selective stress testing may be an opportunity for cost savings through a reduction of unnecessary tests.

Engaging the Poetic Perspective on Care of the Surgical Patient: Lessons from W.H. Auden's "Surgical Ward"

Attention has been brought to the importance of cultivating empathy, communication skills, reflective writing, and self-care in surgeons-in-training. Classical literature and poetry pertaining to themes of surgery, specifically sonnets, can be exemplary methods for cultivating such skills. "Surgical Ward" by W.H. Auden is such a sonnet. Here we suggest that working poems such as "Surgical Ward" can cultivate transferable skills for analysis of text, context and subtext, as well as providing a substrate for discussion of multiple perspectives. These skills can aid in the development of surgical decision-making to produce positive outcomes, yet also benefit self-reflection when mistakes are inevitably made.

Opportunistic Screening for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Ghana: A Prospective Study

Objectives

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis and liver transplant in the United States. It is associated with increased length of stay and poor surgical outcomes. NAFLD affects approximately 30% of American adults, and even more Africans. However reported rates of NAFLD in African countries vary widely, where recent studies have shown that up to 50–87% Africans are could be living with NAFLD. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of NAFLD in Ghana and to assess whether NAFLD is associated with increased length of stay and surgical complications.

Methods

A prospective study on 96 surgical patients aged 18 and older, without a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease, who presented at Eastern Reginal Hospital in Ghana for elective general and gynecological procedures between September and December 2018. A single, expert radiologist screened all patients for NAFLD using an abdominal ultrasound machine. NAFLD was diagnosed in conjunction with the American Association for the study of liver disease guidelines, assessing for increased hepatic echogenicity compared to the spleen and kidneys. Patients were followed up for 30 days and information was collected on length of stay and surgical site occurrences (SSO). Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed using SAS 9.4.

Results

Of 97 patients, mean age 46 ± 14 years, mean BMI 26.9 ± 7.7, and 40 (42%) Male, the mean length of stay was 2.7 days ± 2.7 days. Eighteen (19%) patients had a length of stay ≥ 5 days and 9 (9%) developed a SSO. Ultrasonography revealed that 54 (56%) of patients had NAFLD, of which 15 (28%) patients had moderate disease (25–50% of liver), and 39 (72%) had mild (5–25%) disease. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and BMI were not associated with NAFLD. NAFLD and sex were independent predictors of an increased length of stay ≥ 5 days, where patients with NAFLD were 5x as likely to have an extended length of stay, but not SSO compared to those without NAFLD (OR: 4.8 95% CI 1.1–18.5).

Conclusions

Ghana has almost twice the prevalence of NAFLD compared to the United States, suggesting that NAFLD is very common in Africa. It is associated with delayed surgical recovery leading to more than twice the average length of stay.

Funding Sources

None.

Factors Associated With Hospital Decisions to Purchase Robotic Surgical Systems

Background. Robotic surgical systems are expensive to own and operate, and the purchase of such technology is an important decision for hospital administrators. Most prior literature focuses on the comparison of clinical outcomes between robotic surgery and other laparoscopic or open surgery. There is a knowledge gap about what drives hospitals’ decisions to purchase robotic systems. Objective. To identify factors associated with a hospital’s acquisition of advanced surgical systems. Method. We used 2002 to 2011 data from the State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to examine robotic surgical system purchase decisions of 476 hospitals. We used a probit estimation allowing heteroscedasticity in the error term including a set of two equations: one binary response equation and one heteroscedasticity equation. Results. During the study timeframe, there were 78 robotic surgical systems purchased by hospitals in the sample. Controlling for hospital characteristics such as number of available beds, teaching status, nonprofit status, and patient mix, the probit estimation showed that market-level directly relevant surgery volume in the previous year (excluding the hospital’s own volume) had the largest impact. More specifically, hospitals in high volume (>50,000 surgeries v. 0) markets were 12 percentage points more likely to purchase robotic systems. We also found that hospitals in less competitive markets (i.e., Herfindahl index above 2500) were 2 percentage points more likely to purchase robotic systems. Limitations. This study has limitations common to observational database studies. Certain characteristics such as cultural factors cannot be accurately quantified. Conclusions. Our findings imply that potential market demand is a strong driver for hospital purchase of robotic surgical systems. Market competition does not significantly increase the adoption of new expensive surgical technologies.

Central Obesity Is a Predictor of Stress Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Geriatric Trauma Patients (P21-051-19)

Objectives

In the elderly population, hyperglycemia is associated with increased rates of infections, length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality. However, there is a lack of informative studies addressing the drivers of hyperglycemia. We hypothesized that central obesity has an effect on hyperglycemia. Therefore, our objective is to investigate whether central obesity predicts hyperglycemia within the first 48 hours of admission in elderly trauma patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods

Our trauma registry was queried for all trauma patients aged 65 and older from 2012 to 2018 with an intensive care unit (ICU) LOS of at least 3 days. CT scan images were reviewed for visceral fat area, waist circumference to height ratio (WCHR), waist circumference to hip ratio (WHR) and the presence of sarcopenia, which has been implicated in adverse outcomes of trauma, in the presence or absence of obesity.

Results

Of 320 elderly patients, 7% developed infections, 3% developed stroke, 52% had an increased ICU LOS >6 days, and 48% had an increased total hospital LOS >14 d. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 26%, increased visceral fat area >200 cm2 was 87%, WCHR >0.65 was 25%, and WHR >1 was 54% All of these factors except sarcopenia were significant predictors of hyperglycemia >140 mg/dL (OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 2.53–6.46), (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.47–4.16) and (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.93–4.9) respectively. A total of 143 patients (45%) had an average glucose >140 mg/dL within the first 48 hours after admission and this was independently associated with infections (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.06–7.13), stroke (OR: 5.88, 95% CI: 1.48–38.96), increased ICU LOS (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.20–2.94) and increased hospital LOS (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02–2.48).

Conclusions

Central obesity independently predicts hyperglycemia in geriatric trauma patients. The influence of metabolic stressors related to adiposity may drive elevated glucose levels and could represent a novel target for future outcomes studies in geriatric critical illness

Funding Sources

None.

Dexamethasone stimulates store-operated calcium entry and protein degradation in cultured L6 myotubes through a phospholipase A(2)-dependent mechanism

Muscle wasting in various catabolic conditions is at least in part regulated by glucocorticoids. Increased calcium levels have been reported in atrophying muscle. Mechanisms regulating calcium homeostasis in muscle wasting, in particular the role of glucocorticoids, are poorly understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that glucocorticoids increase intracellular calcium concentrations in skeletal muscle and stimulate store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and that these effects of glucocorticoids may at least in part be responsible for glucocorticoid-induced protein degradation. Treatment of cultured myotubes with dexamethasone, a frequently used in vitro model of muscle wasting, resulted in increased intracellular calcium concentrations determined by fura-2 AM fluorescence measurements. When SOCE was measured by using calcium "add-back" to muscle cells after depletion of intracellular calcium stores, results showed that SOCE was increased 15-25% by dexamethasone and that this response to dexamethasone was inhibited by the store-operated calcium channel blocker BTP2. Dexamethasone treatment stimulated the activity of calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)), and dexamethasone-induced increase in SOCE was reduced by the iPLA(2) inhibitor bromoenol lactone (BEL). In additional experiments, treatment of myotubes with the store-operated calcium channel inhibitor gadolinium ion or BEL reduced dexamethasone-induced increase in protein degradation. Taken together, the results suggest that glucocorticoids increase calcium concentrations in myocytes and stimulate iPLA(2)-dependent SOCE and that glucocorticoid-induced muscle protein degradation may at least in part be regulated by increased iPLA(2) activity, SOCE, and cellular calcium levels.

Does Gum Chewing Ameliorate Postoperative Ileus? Results of a Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

A preliminary report has been interpreted to suggest that gum chewing reduces duration of postcolectomy ileus.

STUDY DESIGN

We rigorously tested this hypothesis in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients undergoing open colectomy (n = 66) were randomized to receive 1 of 3 postoperative regimens beginning on postoperative day 1: sips (control, n = 21); sips and accupressure wrist bracelet (placebo, n = 23); and sips and gum chewing (treatment, n = 22). Patients were unaware of which regimen constituted placebo or treatment; end points were assessed by blinded investigators. Power was set a priori at 85% to detect a 0.75-day difference in time to first postoperative passage of flatus between placebo and treatment groups. Groups were compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Groups were equivalent with respect to demographic and surgical characteristics. Median times to first postoperative passage of flatus were as follows: sips, 67 hours; bracelet and sips, 72 hours; gum and sips, 60 hours (p = 0.384). There were no significant differences in time to passage of first bowel movement, time until patients were ready for discharge, or time until actual discharge among the three groups. Inpatient and 30-day followup demonstrated no difference in frequency or distribution of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to findings of a preliminary study, our clinical trial suggests that gum chewing, although safe, does not reduce duration of postcolectomy ileus.

Relation of surgical volume to outcome in eight common operations: results from the VA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

OBJECTIVE

To examine, in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the relation between surgical volume and outcome in eight commonly performed operations of intermediate complexity.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

In multihospital health care systems such as VHA, consideration is often given to closing low-volume surgical services, with the assumption that better surgical outcomes are achieved in hospitals with larger surgical volumes. Literature data to support this assumption in intermediate-complexity operations are either limited or controversial.

METHODS

The VHA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data on nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy, vascular infrainguinal reconstruction, carotid endarterectomy (CEA), lung lobectomy/pneumonectomy, open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, partial colectomy, and total hip arthroplasty were used. Pearson correlation, analysis of variance, mixed effects hierarchical logistic regression, and automatic interaction detection analysis were used to assess the association of annual procedure/specialty volume with risk-adjusted 30-day death (and stroke in CEA).

RESULTS

Eight major surgical procedures (68,631 operations) were analyzed. No statistically significant associations between procedure or specialty volume and 30-day mortality rate (or 30-day stroke rate in CEA) were found.

CONCLUSIONS

In VHA hospitals, the procedure and surgical specialty volume in eight prevalent operations of intermediate complexity are not associated with risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rate from these operations, or with the risk-adjusted 30-day stroke rate from CEA. Volume of surgery in these operations should not be used as a surrogate for quality of surgical care.

Differential immunoreactivity of plasma glucagon components in man: studies with different glucagon antibodies

To evaluate the relationship between glucagon antibody antigenic determinants and selective reactivity with plasma void volume (Vo) and lower molecular weight immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) components, we studied plasma IRG levels and molecular profiles in normal subjects and patients with disturbances in plasma glucagon levels using three glucagon antibodies, 30K and P7 raised against the whole peptide and antibody X4 raised against the C-terminal tryptic fragment of glucagon. In normal subjects and pancreatectomized patients, plasma IRG levels were 2- to 3-fold higher with the C-terminus-directed antibody X4 than with either 30K or P7, but in glucagonoma and uremic patients, this discrepancy was smaller. Gel filtration analysis revealed that these antibodies reacted identically with 3500 mol wt IRG and 9000 mol wt IRG in normal, glucagonoma, pancreatectomized, and uremic plasma. Relative immunoreactivity of Vo IRG was approximately 5:2:1 with antibodies X4, 30K, and P7, respectively. In two subjects with unexplained hyperglucagonemia, recovery of IRG was entirely in the Vo, with antiserum X4 reacting one third as well as 30K and P7 not reacting at all. Furthermore, this material did not dilute out in parallel to glucagon standard. These data indicate differential immunoreactivity of the high molecular weight circulating IRG component, with a series of three glucagon antibodies reacting similarly with all other plasma IRG fractions, and suggest that Vo IRG material in plasma is predominantly the result of an immunologically cross-reacting peptide sequence in a plasma protein. The selective immunoreactivity of this component with different antibodies has important implications for the glucagon RIA and may have some bearing on other immunoassays as well.

Calcium augmentation of enzyme leakage from mouse skeletal muscle and its possible site of action

Creatine kinase efflux from isolated mouse skeletal muscle was monitored in the presence of various concentrations of Ca2+ or La3+ over a 5 hour period. Ca2+ levels between 10(-3) and 10(-2)M augmented enzyme leakage to greater than 300% above control. La3+, which is said to displace Ca2+ from sarcolemmal and t-tubule membranes, depressed enzyme efflux at concentrations between 10(-5) and 10(-3M. These data indicate that extracellular Ca2+ mediates in vitro enzyme efflux, and may be acting on the sarcolemma and its extensions. These observations may prove useful in developing new means to regulate enzyme leakage in various muscle disorders.